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The clock's ticking and TUSD officials are beginning their search for a new superintendent — but not without your help.

Starting next week, the Arizona School Boards Association, the organization directing the search, will hold public forums to develop the job posting for the city's largest school district.

"It's already drawing good attention," said John Gordon, director of leadership development and a search consultant for the association, a Phoenix-based nonprofit. "Tucson is a very good place to live."

The association also has sent out surveys to TUSD stakeholders — such as parent-teacher associations, employee organizations and community groups — and posted a link on the district's Web site, where people can give input on the characteristics and qualifications they'd like to see in the next superintendent.

Current TUSD Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer's contract ends June 30, 2008. Although Pfeuffer has said he has no definite plans post-retirement, he will remain active in the community through various groups including Opening Minds Through the Arts, the Pan-Asian Community Alliance of Tucson and the Pima County Library Foundation.

No decisions have been made regarding the new superintendent's pay, but Pfeuffer's pay is low in comparison with similar school districts, said Bruce Burke, a TUSD Governing Board member.

A database of TUSD salaries shows Pfeuffer made a base salary of $150,994 last year.

"We are in for some sticker shock," Burke said.

Rather than qualifications, people skills are key in the superintendent post, said Joel Ireland, Governing Board president.

"I don't care if the person has a Ph.D.," Ireland said. "I'd like to see the person have a good record of bringing people together to cooperate, because the district is so diverse and has so many different interest groups."

It would be beneficial for the district to search for a superintendent from outside the 248-square-mile district, said Judy Burns, another board member.

"I want somebody with new ideas, and I think most of our people that are qualified, even local people who are qualified, are too rooted in TUSD to look at it with new eyes."

Burns said all she wants is a well-spoken candidate who can inspire others to do what's best for the children.

"We need somebody who has a vision that isn't rooted in the past," Burns said.

In recent years, superintendent positions have been harder to fill due to the difficulty of the job, Ireland said.

"Once people get a superintendent seat and are working out well, they tend to stay in their job rather than move on to an unknown place where they don't know what issues and problems can come up," he said. "It's a job that chews people up."

TUSD has had its share of recent controversy, which could make the search a bit more difficult, Ireland said.

In the past year, the district has endured prolonged contract negotiations with teachers that resulted in a nearly 1,500-teacher sick-out, as well as state and federal investigations of its IT department and ongoing debate about its nearly three-decade-old desegregation order.

TUSD superintendents before Pfeuffer haven't escaped their share of controversy, either.

Superintendent Stan Paz resigned before the end of his contract due to controversies regarding his management and communication style. After a Governing Board evaluation, it was agreed Paz would resign and take a contract payout of $176,220, according to reports at the time. Paz was paid $176,000 in base pay, plus a car and expense allowance and an insurance and retirement package.

"The weak of heart will not be willing to throw their hat in the ring," Ireland said.

The governing board selected and paid his association $51,500 to conduct the search, Gordon said.

Based on community input, including the forums and an online survey, a job description for the position will be compiled and posted by Nov. 2.

"The board wants to make this a very transparent process," Gordon said.

The application deadline for the superintendent post is Jan. 25, 2008.

"It will be a very attractive job," Gordon said. "We're looking for lots of applications."